New Dinette Seating!

[jd1923]

We bought replacement seating on Amazon, hoping in time for our trip to the Texas Rally. It got here but I returned it for $400 plus tax it had to be right.

https://a.co/d/gqOD3yI

there was no foam in them just Dacor batting 5” thick in the bottoms, the pillows were all poophy and too tall.

Thought of reupholstery and had a good feeling about a shop in Prescott Valley which has lower labor rates than Prescott proper. With 4 yards of Sunbrella stain resistant burgany with new batting they quoted $350.

[jd1923]

They put us on their November calendar. After running our trip, every time I sat on the old cushions, I thought it would be a shame to merely reupholster with new cloth yet keep the 9-year-old foam. When we dropped them off, I asked about new foam. He said the quality of foam for seating they carry is far superior to what we showed them in the old cushions. We went with 24x25" bottoms with 5" new foam (1" taller) and with the batting and fabric, the cushions are closer to 6" tall. We had 2" clearance under the window frames with the old cushions. The new ones just fill the opening and stay nicely. Went with the original sized 4" foam for the seat backs. All new foam, batting, fabric, zippers with newly corded edges.

Chris loves the color given her Red, White and Blue Oliver theme! We spent just under $500 out the door. Which for me was better than the $350 for upholstery only. Soon, she will look as good as she tows or provides inverter power!

[jd1923]

@Steve-Gwenne, you're new to us, though in my memory, I have read your forum name in the past. Thank you and God bless you for your acknowledgement on my humble post! TY 

@Mike and Carol and @Derek B, we met just this October, my new BFFs and thank you too! Given the great central Texas and Louisiana, you should be able to build dinette seats at 60c on the dollar of AZ prices. Get er done.

Derek work your LiFePO4 purchase first and asap. Love you, guys...

[Ronbrink]

On 11/26/2024 at 5:47 PM, jd1923 said:

We went with 24x25" bottoms with 5" new foam (1" taller) and with the batting and fabric, the cushions are closer to 6" tall. We had 2" clearance under the window frames with the old cushions. The new ones just fill the opening and stay nicely. Went with the original sized 4" foam for the seat backs.

Really sharp looking seat cushions, great design and color selection! Iv’e often thought about having a wider back cushion, since we both need some extra backing when dining, but now think a thicker bottom cushion or maybe just better quality foam may be good, as well. With Chris being much shorter than you, does the 6” bottom cushion pair well with her frame? 

[John Dorrer]

On 11/26/2024 at 6:47 PM, jd1923 said:

They put us on their November calendar. After running our trip, every time I sat on the old cushions, I thought it would be a shame to merely reupholster with new cloth yet keep the 9-year-old foam. When we dropped them off, I asked about new foam. He said the quality of foam for seating they carry is far superior to what we showed them in the old cushions. We went with 24x25" bottoms with 5" new foam (1" taller) and with the batting and fabric, the cushions are closer to 6" tall. We had 2" clearance under the window frames with the old cushions. The new ones just fill the opening and stay nicely. Went with the original sized 4" foam for the seat backs. All new foam, batting, fabric, zippers with newly corded edges.

Chris loves the color given her Red, White and Blue Oliver theme! We spent just under $500 out the door. Which for me was better than the $350 for upholstery only. Soon, she will look as good as she tows or provides inverter power!

Those look awesome👏👏

[jd1923]

3 hours ago, Ronbrink said:

Really sharp looking seat cushions, great design and color selection! I’ve often thought about having a wider back cushion, since we both need some extra backing when dining, but now think a thicker bottom cushion or maybe just better quality foam may be good, as well. With Chris being much shorter than you, does the 6” bottom cushion pair well with her frame? 

Chris and I had a Thanksgiving drink in the Oliver yesterday! I was testing a new TV tuner and antenna earlier in the day and had the football game on. These cushions so much more comfortable!

The foam is better quality, denser so you do not feel the hard platform anymore. The seats are 22" tall and I measured our dining room chairs and LR couches which all measure 20" high. I have short inseams for my height. When Chris or I sit squarely our heels would be 1" off the floor but when leaning back or forward they feel fine. The bottoms with 5" foam and with Dacron batting are 6" finished. The backs are 5" total using 4" foam. I believe for Chris, or for you and Brooxie new 4" foam (5" total) in the bottom cushions would certainly be enough for your weight. My weight is in my upper body, so the deeper bottom is great! If you make the backs deeper, you will lose an inch of seating area which might work well for you. Either way, it made sense for the extra money to replace all materials after 9 years as the old cushions had several stains and the old foam was no longer square.

We bought this fabric at $42/yard delivered, buying it through our upholsterer. Comes in many colors, you will need 4 yards: Sunbrella Upholstery Canvas Burgundy (5436-0000) I added a picture to show the quality of the work.

Edited November 29, 2024 by jd1923

[Steve Morris]

For anyone planning to recover their dinette cushions, and never has guests sleeping on that bed, I suggest making the seatback wedge shaped.

One of my only complaints about the Oliver is how my bad back hurts after sitting at the dinette for too long. After only a couple outings, I added a length of pool noodle split in half lengthwise behind the bottom of the backrest. This 1-1/2" ish tilt made all the difference!  Whenever we need to get the cushions covered, we will have the padding and covering made wedge shaped to match this angle.

[jd1923]

23 minutes ago, Steve Morris said:

I suggest making the seatback wedge shaped.

This would be nice at times but will take depth from the seating area. I like the pool noodle idea or a lumbar pillow since they can be removed when dining. I have one that I can use at the dinette and always when watching TV from bed.

Sitting correctly when eating I prefer the full depth, but perhaps not needed for all given Ron's comment. Our dog Charley likes to sit at the dinette in the morning looking out the window and when we are away for the day. We're looking now for a throw-cover, so he doesn't dirty the new fabric!

Checkout my before and after picture. Our old cushions were just gross! I tossed out the bottoms but kept the backs which are great for kneeling when working in the Oliver basement! One reason ours got so dirty is that all summer I used them for kneeling or laying on the floor working all our Oliver mods.

[Ronbrink]

2 hours ago, jd1923 said:

One reason ours got so dirty is that all summer I used them for kneeling or laying on the floor working all our Oliver mods.

I carry a pad in the Oliver for any kneeling or laying on my side or back; stows against the nightstand between the twin bed rails and floor perfectly. Mostly for inside use, but outside on occasion, as necessary.

[jd1923]

22 minutes ago, Ronbrink said:

I carry a pad in the Oliver for any kneeling...

I have the same one in my truck toolbox but after brake jobs and such mine is strictly for outdoor use! 🤣

[topgun2]

1 hour ago, Ronbrink said:

I carry a pad in the Oliver for any kneeling or laying on my side or back; stows against the nightstand between the twin bed rails and floor perfectly. Mostly for inside use, but outside on occasion, as necessary.

THAT looks like a "Holiday Gift Stuff" to me!

Bill

[Patriot]

I have a couple of these knee savers. One in the Oliver, one in the shop and one for all other outside landscape jobs. On long trips I always have one handy in the bed of our TV. With pretty solid reviews, they have held up really well and my knees stay happy! 😊

 

Edited November 30, 2024 by Patriot

[jd1923]

15 hours ago, Patriot said:

I have a couple of these knee savers. One in the Oliver, one in the shop and one for all other outside landscape jobs. On long trips I always have one handy in the bed of our TV. With pretty solid reviews, they have held up really well and my knees stay happy!

Wow, less than half the price of Home Depot for what looks like the same item less the Husky house brand name.

[Mike and Carol]

I have the Husky from Home Depot.  Nice size and thickness.  It’s usually on sale around Christmas. 

[Patriot]

4 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Wow, less than half the price of Home Depot for what looks like the same item less the Husky house brand name.

Pretty much…as little as I use them for the price they hold up well. 

[Ronbrink]

22 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Wow, less than half the price of Home Depot for what looks like the same item less the Husky house brand name.

In comparison, the featured Harbour Freight kneeling pad measures 11” x 18” whereas the more expensive Home Depot pad measures 15” x 22”; both equal in thickness. I like having more upper body and hip real estate when laying down inside or crawling under the Oliver, eases the shoulder, back, hip and knee pains a’commin’!

Edited December 1, 2024 by Ronbrink

[jd1923]

3 hours ago, Ronbrink said:

In comparison, the featured Harbour Freight kneeling pad measures 11” x 18” whereas the more expensive Home Depot pad measures 15” x 22”; both equal in thickness. I like having more upper body and hip real estate when laying down inside or crawling under the Oliver, eases the shoulder, back, hip and knee pains a’commin’!

That's why I saved the dinette seat backs that measure 24x15 and 4" thick! 🤣

[DunnYet]

I keep a very inexpensive yoga mat rolled up in the front bin for work under the trailer and for Anderson hitch chain adjustments. Since those almost always occur in gravel sites it keeps me from starting the day looking like I crawled through chalk and mud on the way to the truck. 🤣

[jd1923]

Besides the new dinette cushions we ordered carpet runners. I order the 4' length for the entrance, just to check it out, nice product. Later we ordered the 10' length. They come 26" wide (perfect) at every foot length. If you are interested in these reasonable carpet runners, just order the 10' (or 12') as they include at no charge a 3' runner! Carpets are not worth a picture so please look here: https://a.co/d/8kEcOFy

Then I had another idea. After 55+ nights camping, just a drop in the bucket for most of you... 
The one thing that always bothered me was where do I put my PJs when I dress in the morning? And more so, where do I put my Jeans, shirts and socks that I would like to wear another day, not yet ready for laundry? We have so far piled up our day clothes on one dinette cushion at bedtime.
This is our new fix: https://a.co/d/dW89TwU

We love it! 🤣 Zoom in to see the simple, easily reversable, installation.

Edited December 2, 2024 by jd1923

[SeaDawg]

Nice.

During tick season, no one "re-wears" 

Outside of that, early spring/late fall/winter,  in the east, that would work.  

Looks great.

[jd1923]

Yesterday, I remounted what I call our PJ baskets because the original mounts had failed. I had used 3 zip-tie anchors which you can see in the pictures above. The supplied tape on these zip-tie anchors are bad. Then I rehung them with 3M VHB 4950 on the same mounts which lasted longer but eventually failed.

So I came up with this flex bracket idea, I cut 14" brackets from a coiled supply and applied one long strip of 1" VHB and then cutout three 1/4" openings to fit the zip ties through. BTW, it's not easy to get your body back in these corners with level in hand and mount these squarely with the VHB wanting to grab on first touch.

This time, these mounts will be strong enough to hold bricks! So my heavy jeans, and whatever overnight will hold nicely (except when in MN this June, due to @SeaDawg's tick warning!). We also put our bath towels in the baskets after they have dried. These are handy!

Most of the metal is hidden because of the spacers I added keeping the basket up to the top of the bracket. The only weak-link are the zip-ties (these are 50 lb strength, but zip-ties today are more brittle than they used to be) but they replace easily. These brackets are not going anywhere, and again, as in all of my installations, no holes drilled into the Oliver fiberglass!

Obviously, we sleep feet to the rear. We're heading out on a long trip next week, so it's going this way for now. After our trip, I'll take them down over the summer and apply a white vinyl trim tape to just cover the metal brackets and then she'll be pretty besides strong! No more clothes piled up overnight on the dinette seats, nice!

Edited May 23 by jd1923

[Jason Foster]

7 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Yesterday, I remounted what I call our PJ baskets because the original mounts had failed. I had used 3 zip-tie anchors which you can see in the pictures above. The supplied tape on these zip-tie anchors are bad. Then I rehung them with 3M VHB 4950 on the same mounts which lasted longer but eventually failed.

So I came up with this flex bracket idea, I cut 14" brackets from a coiled supply and applied one long strip of 1" VHB and then cutout three 1/4" openings to fit the zip ties through. BTW, it's not easy to get your body back in these corners with level in hand and mount these squarely with the VHB wanting to grab on first touch.

This time, these mounts will be strong enough to hold bricks! So my heavy jeans, and whatever overnight will hold nicely (except when in MN this June, due to @SeaDawg's tick warning!). We also put our bath towels in the baskets after they have dried. These are handy!

Most of the metal is hidden because of the spacers I added keeping the basket up to the top of the bracket. The only weak-link are the zip-ties (these are 50 lb strength, but zip-ties today are more brittle than they used to be) but they replace easily. These brackets are not going anywhere, and again, as in all of my installations, no holes drilled into the Oliver fiberglass!

Obviously, we sleep feet to the rear. We're heading out on a long trip next week, so it's going this way for now. After our trip, I'll take them down over the summer and apply a white vinyl trim tape to just cover the metal brackets and then she'll be pretty besides strong! No more clothes piled up overnight on the dinette seats, nice!

 

 

 

Nice.  Increasing the surface for adhesion makes sense.  

I have also noticed that the white zip ties seem to break down much faster than the black ones.  UV light perhaps is to blame since the black ones are more UV resistant.

[jd1923]

13 hours ago, Jason Foster said:

I have also noticed that the white zip ties seem to break down much faster than the black ones.  UV light perhaps is to blame since the black ones are more UV resistant.

Lately, either black or white, many will fail right out of a new pack upon tightening!

[Jason Foster]

5 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Lately, either black or white, many will fail right out of a new pack upon tightening!

That is either a manufacturers defect or you are using some of those 30 year old “you never know when we might need these” zip ties. The only ones that ever failed out of the pack are the ones that couldn’t resist the gorilla grip test. 

[mountainoliver]

John, three words tell the story “made in china”! I used to have a giant pack of T&B wire ties. They had a stainless steel ratchet piece molded in. Once you pulled them tight you could not get them to loosen. They even lasted forever outside. It’s a different world now.